“You can give us absolutely no idea whatever of his personal appearance?” he inquired dubiously. “None whatever,” I answered. “The dress and mask were effectual in disguising him.” “And the two men who falsely passed as police agents--will you kindly describe them?” And he took out a well-worn pocket-book and scribbled in it. I described their personal appearance as closely as I could, while on his part he took down my statement very carefully. “This is most extraordinary!” Ulrica observed, standing near me in wonder. “The pair who said they were detectives were exceedingly clever, and are evidently aware of all that has transpired.” “Marvellous!” exclaimed the man reflectively. “Only a very clever thief would dare to walk into the bureau of the Casino and act as they did.” “Have they any connection with the actual assassin, do you think?” “I’m inclined to believe so,” he responded. “It was a conspiracy on their part to obtain possession of the money.” “Of course, I gave it up in entire innocence,” I said. “I never dreamed that such a plot could exist.” “Ah, mademoiselle,” observed the detective, “in this affair we have evidently to deal with those who have brought crime to a fine art. There seems something remarkable regarding the appointment in London on the second of June. It seems as though it were devised to gain time with some secret object or another.” “I am absolutely bewildered,” I admitted. “My position in this tragic affair is anything but enviable.” “Most certainly. All this must be most annoying and distressing to mademoiselle. I only hope we shall be successful in tracing the real perpetrators of the crime.” “You think there was more than one?” “That is most probable,” he replied. “At present, however, we still remain without any tangible clue, save that the proceeds of the crime have passed from one person to another through the agency of yourself.” “Their audacity was beyond comprehension!” I cried. “It really seems inconceivable that I should have danced with the actual murderer, and afterwards been induced to hand over to a pair of impostors the money stolen from the unfortunate young man. I feel that I am to blame for my shortsightedness.” “Not at all, mademoiselle, not at all,” declared the detective with his suave Gallic politeness. “With such a set of ingenious malefactors it is easy to commit an error and fall a victim.” “And what can be done?” “We can only continue our investigations.” “But the man in the owl’s dress? Tell me candidly, do you really believe that he was the actual murderer?” “He may have been. It was evident that for some hidden reason he had some strong motive in passing the stolen notes into your possession.” “But why?” “Ah! that is one of the mysteries which we must try and solve. The man was French, you say?” “He spoke English admirably.” “No word of French?” “Not a single word. Yet he possessed an accent rather unusual.”